October 19, 2025Oct 19 Examples: 1. A restaurant server insists on flipping the pages of a menu for me even when I move away and try to do it myself. 2. A laundrymat worker stands there and explains every little thing about how to work the machine at a self-service laundry even when I avoid eye contact and obviously want to be left alone. Does anyone else find this demeaning? I'm a full grown man and feel like I'm being treated like a baby at many places. I don't need someone turning menu pages or telling me how to add soap to a washing machine 🤷🏻♂️ Is this just the Thai way, or is there a demeaning aspect at play? A control situation? I never see it happen with Thai's to each other.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 Popular Post No, i never noticed that. Thais dont take as much pride in serving others than say the japanese do, but mainly because they are all paid barely anything
October 19, 2025Oct 19 Author 23 minutes ago, hotsun said: No, i never noticed that. Thais dont take as much pride in serving others than say the japanese do, but mainly because they are all paid barely anything It's not really service. It's a demeaning coddling. Similar to what one would do with a baby or child. 😅
October 19, 2025Oct 19 Yes, I have noticed this. I attribute it to Thai arrogance, & ignorance of other cultures. "Thais know best" combined with "you must be stupid because you can't speak Thai" or "you do things differently". I don't see it as intentional or malicious.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 Popular Post Perhaps they are just trying to be helpful and show a foreigner that Thais are helpful. Nothing to get upset about. If menial stuff like that bothers you then probably you are in the wrong part of the world.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 55 minutes ago, Mark1969 said: A laundrymat worker stands there and explains every little thing about how to work the machine at a self-service laundry even when I avoid eye contact and obviously want to be left alone. I thought only Thais used those self service laundries. You can get full service laundries that wash and iron your clothes for next to nothing if you don’t have your own machine and a maid to do it. Sounds like they were just trying to help out a less fortunate farang. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 I'm not sure about the menu, unless they are flipping to an English or illustrated selection section..... Modern laundromats are new to Thais....They might think it's new for you too, or the instructions are in Thai & they are just trying to be helpful.... By in large the Thais are an unassuming, helpful lot.....
October 19, 2025Oct 19 26 minutes ago, MalcolmB said: I thought only Thais used those self service laundries. You can get full service laundries that wash and iron your clothes for next to nothing if you don’t have your own machine and a maid to do it. Sounds like they were just trying to help out a less fortunate farang. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. The machines are good for blankets / duvets etc, much cheaper.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 Author Popular Post 44 minutes ago, MalcolmB said: I thought only Thais used those self service laundries. You can get full service laundries that wash and iron your clothes for next to nothing if you don’t have your own machine and a maid to do it. Sounds like they were just trying to help out a less fortunate farang. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I get that feeling. I have always liked doing my own laundry though. I also clean my own living space. I don't like sitting around and having every little thing done for me, being driven around everywhere and being constantly catered to. I feel like it makes a person soft and weak.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 2 hours ago, short-Timer said: Perhaps they are just trying to be helpful and show a foreigner that Thais are helpful. Nothing to get upset about. If menial stuff like that bothers you then probably you are in the wrong part of the world. Another thing is showing off to other Thais that they can speak English. Vanity is certainly not exclusive to LOS, but it does burn brightly here.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 2 hours ago, MalcolmB said: I thought only Thais used those self service laundries. You can get full service laundries that wash and iron your clothes for next to nothing if you don’t have your own machine and a maid to do it. Sounds like they were just trying to help out a less fortunate farang. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Stopped using service laundry while living in Brazil where clothing items tend to disappear. I guess the soap is so strong it makes things disintegrate . I met a US guy who really hit the ceiling when a sports jersey that cost over US$100 disappeared from his wash. Stick with $10 tee-shirts, bro! Also no sidewalk cafes for me, another piece of Brazil influence; I guess Thais are too proud to do public begging on that level.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 Author 2 hours ago, Lee65 said: Yes, I have noticed this. I attribute it to Thai arrogance, & ignorance of other cultures. "Thais know best" combined with "you must be stupid because you can't speak Thai" or "you do things differently". I don't see it as intentional or malicious. It could also be a "do it my way" thing. Perhaps they are uncomfortable with a foreigner taking the initiative and doing things themselves. What that translates into is them not being needed as much and not getting paid in a wider context. There is probably more to it then simply helping out a foreigner they don't know with such small trivial matters.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 Popular Post 8 hours ago, Mark1969 said: "I'm a full grown man" Not likely if you post tripe like this.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 They are doing it because they were told that it is their job to do it every time and they will not disobey their work instructions even if you want them to.
October 19, 2025Oct 19 20 hours ago, Mark1969 said: A control situation? Partly control. They clearly think you can't work it out for yourself.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 Popular Post 9 hours ago, Mark1969 said: It's not really service. It's a demeaning coddling. Similar to what one would do with a baby or child. 😅 No its more they are trying to assist a foreigner that may not speak or read thai or use the machines here. The flip side could be they ignore you and you get butt hurt that they discriminate.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 Came across this at the Andaman Club years ago. As I approached a Poker Machine a Thai woman working at the Casino there started to inform me how to play the machines It started to P##s me off a bit, then my wife opened up by telling her we no longer had to pull the handles in Australia, as all the machines were button activated. Poor girl looked dumfounded as she walked away with her head lowered
October 20, 2025Oct 20 A village leader in Peru took me to his shack to show me a new device that had recently arrived. The only one in the village. He leaned over a small table and explained slowly, so even I could understand. He said, "It's called a telephone. You put numbers into it, and right away, quickly, someone in the city answers. But if the other phone in the city is occupied, they do not answer. You wait ten minutes and put numbers into the phone again, and then they do answer, and you can talk to them!" Like everyone else there, he didn't think I was all that bright, so he explained it 4-5 times. Half the village gathered to watch my Peruvian wife use the phone. They all grinned when she started talking, looking at me and saying, 'See. We told you so'.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 The laundromat thing happened to me recently but I think it was the worker justifying his value to the employer. I mean there were two suverillence cameras in the place the worker acted like he had to be busy. He would constantly wipe the machines down after each use, remove clothiing when they were done and I think he meant well. The restuarant menu thing has never happened to me. I sense laziness more often then any kind of demeaning behavior by Thai service workers.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 2 hours ago, sqwakvfr said: The laundromat thing happened to me recently but I think it was the worker justifying his value to the employer. I mean there were two suverillence cameras in the place the worker acted like he had to be busy. He would constantly wipe the machines down after each use, remove clothiing when they were done and I think he meant well. The restuarant menu thing has never happened to me. I sense laziness more often then any kind of demeaning behavior by Thai service workers. no, its called trying to do the job they are assigned to do. If no one was there to help you or if they ignored you would you feel ok or claim double standard and discrimination
October 20, 2025Oct 20 Author 18 minutes ago, Dan O said: no, its called trying to do the job they are assigned to do. If no one was there to help you or if they ignored you would you feel ok or claim double standard and discrimination I would be celebrating 🤣
October 20, 2025Oct 20 5 minutes ago, Mark1969 said: I would be celebrating 🤣 I suspect based on your posts you would be a whiner complaining about discrimination if the attendant went to help a thai and ignored you.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 Popular Post If they didn't try and help you , you would have had nothing to come on here and moan about ,then what would you do. We have also had people on here complaining ,that Thais ignore them ,say in 7-11 and serve other Thais before them, it's very difficult to please everyone.... regards Worgeordie
October 20, 2025Oct 20 1 hour ago, Dan O said: no, its called trying to do the job they are assigned to do. If no one was there to help you or if they ignored you would you feel ok or claim double standard and discrimination So you can now predict my future behavior? What will I do next? I have never asked for any assitance from the employee at this laundromat because the instructions on the machines are in Thai and English.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 Author 34 minutes ago, worgeordie said: If they didn't try and help you , you would have had nothing to come on here and moan about ,then what would you do. We have also had people on here complaining ,that Thais ignore them ,say in 7-11 and serve other Thais before them, it's very difficult to please everyone.... regards Worgeordie Being served last would suck, I'm there waiting. That's the problem is you have to be served at most places so it's not avoidable. The only solution would be self-checkout, but I don't think Thai's like it much. I usually do things non-verbally, either backing away or creating space, which seems pretty obvious to me that I'm not interested in any help, though I am interested in the product. The times I have verbally told someone I don't need assistance they seemed to get it, but they continue standing there staring looking slighted. Maybe I'm doing it wrong.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 17 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said: So you can now predict my future behavior? What will I do next? I have never asked for any assitance from the employee at this laundromat because the instructions on the machines are in Thai and English. where did I predict your future? I asked you a question, there's a difference, learn to read. Seems you just want to argue. An employee doing there job isnt a hinderance, its called being helpful. If you don't want their help learn how to say "no thank you in Thai" or go to a laundry that has no employees on site, there are plenty of them around.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 Hmm: "suspect based on your posts you would be a whiner complaining about discrimination if the attendant went to help a thai and ignored you." So I am a Whiner? Ok. Your opinion. You did not write this? You started this argument by accusing me of being a whiner? Lastly I do not know who or what you are. Nor do I ever care to find out so i would never accuse or state that you are whiner or not.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 57 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said: Hmm: "suspect based on your posts you would be a whiner complaining about discrimination if the attendant went to help a thai and ignored you." So I am a Whiner? Ok. Your opinion. You did not write this? You started this argument by accusing me of being a whiner? Lastly I do not know who or what you are. Nor do I ever care to find out so i would never accuse or state that you are whiner or not. It seems that he quoted someone else, but you have decided to accept responsibility in their place.
October 20, 2025Oct 20 1 hour ago, BatteringRam said: It seems that he quoted someone else, but you have decided to accept responsibility in their place. Ok. Thanks for the explanation.
October 22, 2025Oct 22 After reading about how foreign men behave in Thailand if I saw one in my laundromat on his own I'd want to keep him under close surveillance.
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